Minneapolis Assembly of God Hospital

The church should be a hospital. I wrote this on a piece of notebook paper during a class last week. I recently took out the piece of paper and thought about it. One of the things about church that bothers me is that we have become a sort of club. A club is a group of people who are alike and who like each other and who do things together. More importantly, however, is the fact that a club is exclusive. A person cannot simply decide to be a part of a club. Said person must apply or ask the right people in order to be included. What if the church functioned not as a club, but as a hospital? One of the characteristics of a hospital is that people who are completely healthy don't get admitted. In church, people act like they are perfect and people who are less than perfect have a more difficult time gaining acceptance. What do people expect from non-Christians who have decided to come to church? We expect them to be perfect because that's what we all pretend to be. A hospital is for people with serious problems. It's a place where they can come and be made better. Does the church admit people with serious problems? How about a young person with blue hair, black make-up, and all black clothing? Do we go out of our way to make this person who is obviously crying out for SOMETHING feel welcome, or do we go out of our way to avoid this person. I feel that the latter is practiced more often. I challenge myself and everyone else involved in the church to pay special attention to PATIENTS in need of God. Don't avoid them. Help them.